U.S. patent application number 14/748100 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-15 for environmental remediation system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Environmental Lunch Box Technology LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Thomas J. Kryzak. Invention is credited to Thomas J. Kryzak.
Application Number | 20150291264 14/748100 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908045 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150291264 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kryzak; Thomas J. |
October 15, 2015 |
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION SYSTEM
Abstract
An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating
contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and
introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the
body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open
face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of
water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the
bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least
one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the
vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials
which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one
pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture
out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with
chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants
in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the
inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).
Inventors: |
Kryzak; Thomas J.;
(Altamont, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kryzak; Thomas J. |
Altamont |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Environmental Lunch Box Technology
LLC
Altamont
NY
|
Family ID: |
35908045 |
Appl. No.: |
14/748100 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13684444 |
Nov 23, 2012 |
9091034 |
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14748100 |
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12716017 |
Mar 2, 2010 |
8337695 |
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13684444 |
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12471389 |
May 24, 2009 |
7699982 |
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12716017 |
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11779705 |
Jul 18, 2007 |
7578248 |
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12471389 |
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10918257 |
Aug 13, 2004 |
7264713 |
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11779705 |
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60499619 |
Sep 3, 2003 |
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60504608 |
Sep 22, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/747.5 ;
210/170.01; 210/170.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 3/905 20130101;
Y02A 20/156 20180101; C02F 1/004 20130101; B63C 11/52 20130101;
Y10S 111/90 20130101; B63B 35/32 20130101; A01H 4/001 20130101;
C02F 3/327 20130101; C02F 2103/007 20130101; C02F 1/001 20130101;
C02F 1/58 20130101; C02F 2209/006 20130101; B63C 11/00 20130101;
C02F 1/008 20130101; E02F 3/885 20130101; B09C 1/08 20130101; B08B
9/0933 20130101; C02F 2101/363 20130101; Y02W 10/10 20150501; E02B
3/023 20130101; B09C 1/00 20130101; Y02W 10/18 20150501; E02F
3/8841 20130101; Y02A 20/152 20180101; C02F 2301/046 20130101; C02F
2301/063 20130101; E02F 3/9256 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/32 20060101
B63B035/32; E02F 3/90 20060101 E02F003/90; E02F 3/88 20060101
E02F003/88; B63C 11/52 20060101 B63C011/52; E02B 3/02 20060101
E02B003/02 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. An apparatus for transporting contained and suspended materials
from an enclosed space in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
a polygon shaped vessel including first, second, third, and fourth
side plates, a top plate, and an opening; first, second, third, and
fourth curtain plates abutting and having been coupled to the
first, second, third, and the fourth side plates, respectively,
wherein the opening is facing a bottom of a body of water and the
vessel is in direct physical contact with the bottom of the body of
water, wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and
suspend materials inside the vessel; and a first pipe configured to
transport the contained and suspended materials from an interior of
the vessel to an exterior of the vessel.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first and second curtain
plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel and the
third and fourth curtain plates are at opposite sides of the
rectangular vessel, and wherein the first and second curtain plates
are longer in length than the first and second side plates of the
vessel, and the third and fourth curtain plates are the same in
length as the third and fourth side plates of the vessel.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising: first and second
rams; first and second pistons adapted for sliding inside the first
and second rams, respectively; and first and second single-plane
connectors coupling the first and second pistons, respectively, to
the first curtain plane, wherein the first and second single-plane
connectors enable the first curtain plate to rotate only in a plane
parallel to the first side plate of the vessel.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: third and fourth
rams; third and fourth pistons adapted for sliding inside the third
and fourth rams, respectively; and third and fourth single-plane
connectors coupling the third and fourth pistons, respectively, to
the second curtain plane, wherein the third and fourth single-plane
connectors enable the second curtain plate to rotate only in a
plane parallel to the second side plate of the vessel.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each of the first and second
rams has been adapted for rotating around a point affixed to the
vessel and only in a plane parallel to the first side plate, and
wherein each of the third and fourth rams has been adapted for
rotating around a point affixed to the vessel and only in a plane
parallel to the second side plate.
25. A method for transporting contained and suspended materials
from an enclosed space in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
providing a polygon shaped vessel, comprising: first, second,
third, and fourth side plates, a top plate, and an opening, wherein
an open face of the vessel faces the bottom of the body of water;
providing first, second, third, and fourth curtain plates abutting
and having been coupled to the first, second, third and the fourth
side plates, respectively; wherein the vessel has been configured
to contain and suspend materials inside the vessel; and providing a
first pipe configured to transport the contained and suspended
materials from an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the
vessel.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first and second curtain
plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel and the
third and fourth curtain plates are at opposite sides of the
rectangular vessel, and wherein the first and second curtain plates
are longer in length than the first and second side plates of the
vessel, and the third and fourth curtain plates are the same in
length as the third and fourth side plates of the vessel.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising: providing first and
second rams coupled to the first side plate; providing first and
second pistons adapted for sliding inside the first and second
rams, respectively; providing first and second single-plane
connectors coupling the first and second pistons, respectively, to
the first curtain plane; and rotating the first curtain plate in
only a plane parallel to the first side plate of the vessel in
response to the first curtain plate being lowered down to the
bottom of the body of water.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising: providing third and
fourth rams coupled to the second side plate; providing third and
fourth pistons adapted for sliding inside the third and fourth
rams, respectively; providing third and fourth single-plane
connectors coupling the third and fourth pistons, respectively, to
the second curtain plane; and rotating the second curtain plate
only in a plane parallel to the second side plate of the vessel in
response to the second curtain plate being lowered down to the
bottom of the body of water.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: rotating each of
the first and second rams around a point affixed to the vessel and
in only a plane parallel to the first side plate in response to the
first curtain plate being lowered down to the bottom of the body of
water, and rotating each of the third and fourth rams around a
point affixed to the vessel and in only a plane parallel to the
second side plate in response to the second curtain plate being
lowered down to the bottom of the body of water.
30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of
positioning the vessel such that a slope direction of the bottom of
the body of water is from the third curtain plate to the fourth
curtain plate.
31. A system for transporting contained and suspended materials
from an enclosed space in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
a rig or a boat; a polygon shaped vessel operably coupled to the
rig or boat, comprising: first, second, third, and fourth side
plates, a top plate, and an opening; and first, second, third, and
fourth curtain plates abutting and having been coupled to the
first, second, third, and the fourth side plates, respectively,
wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend
materials inside the vessel; and a first pipe configured to
transport the contained and suspended materials from an interior of
the vessel to an exterior of the vessel.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first and second curtain
plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel and the
third and fourth curtain plates are at opposite sides of the
rectangular vessel, and wherein the first and second curtain plates
are longer in length than the first and second side plates of the
vessel, and the third and fourth curtain plates are the same in
length as the third and fourth side plates of the vessel.
33. The system of claim 32, comprising: first and second rams; and
first and second pistons adapted for sliding inside the first and
second rams, respectively; and first and second single-plane
connectors coupling the first and second pistons, respectively, to
the first curtain plane, wherein the first and second single-plane
connectors enable the first curtain plate to rotate only in a plane
parallel to the first side plate of the vessel.
34. The system of claim 33, comprising: third and fourth rams;
third and fourth pistons adapted for sliding inside the third and
fourth rams, respectively; and third and fourth single-plane
connectors coupling the third and fourth pistons, respectively, to
the second curtain plane, wherein the third and fourth single-plane
connectors enable the second curtain plate to rotate only in a
plane parallel to the second side plate of the vessel.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein each of the first and second
rams has been adapted for rotating around a point affixed to the
vessel and only in a plane parallel to the first side plate, and
wherein each of the third and fourth rams has been adapted for
rotating around a point affixed to the vessel and only in a plane
parallel to the second side plate.
36. An apparatus for transporting contained and suspended materials
from an enclosed space in a bottom of a body of water, comprising:
a polygon shaped vessel including first, second, third, and fourth
side plates, a top plate, and an opening, wherein the vessel has
been configured to contain and suspend materials inside the vessel;
first, second, third, and fourth curtain plates abutting and having
been coupled to the first, second, third, and the fourth side
plates, respectively, wherein the vessel has been configured to
contain and suspend materials inside the vessel; a first pipe
configured to transport the contained and suspended materials from
an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel; first and
second rams; first and second pistons adapted for sliding inside
the first and second rams, respectively; and first and second
single-plane connectors coupling first and second pistons,
respectively, to the first curtain plane, wherein the first and
second single-plane connectors enable the first curtain plate to
rotate only in a plane parallel to the first side plate of the
vessel, and wherein the first, second, third, and the fourth
curtain plates are in direct physical contact with the bottom of
the body of water.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first and second curtain
plates are at opposite sides of the rectangular vessel and the
third and fourth curtain plates are at opposite sides of the
rectangular vessel, and wherein the first and second curtain plates
are longer in length than the first and second side plates of the
vessel, and the third and fourth curtain plates are the same in
length as the third and fourth side plates of the vessel.
38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising: third and fourth
rams; third and fourth pistons adapted for sliding inside the third
and fourth rams, respectively; and third and fourth single-plane
connectors coupling the third and fourth pistons, respectively, to
the second curtain plane, wherein the third and fourth single-plane
connectors enable the second curtain plate to rotate only in a
plane parallel to the second side plate of the vessel
39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein each of the first and second
rams have been adapted for rotating around a point affixed to the
vessel and only in a plane parallel to the first side plate, and
wherein each of the third and fourth rams has been adapted for
rotating around a point affixed to the vessel and only in a plane
parallel to the second side plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to cleaning toxic waste, and
more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for
remediation of contaminated materials from a body of water.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] It has been found that some naturally occurring bodies of
water such as lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams have become
contaminated with material, such as, for example, with chemicals
such as polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs") or chlorinated
dioxins.
[0005] There is a need for an apparatus, system and method for
removal of these contaminated materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides an
apparatus, comprising: a vessel including a rimmed opening, wherein
when the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a body of water,
wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend
materials inside the vessel; a first pipe coupled to the vessel and
configured to transport the contained and suspended materials from
an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel, wherein the
first pipe includes an attachment selected from the group
consisting of a filter and a drill head or auger; and a second pipe
coupled to the vessel and configured to return the suspended
materials to the interior of the vessel.
[0007] A second aspect of the present invention provides an
apparatus, comprising: a vessel including a rimmed opening, wherein
when the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a body of water,
wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend
materials inside the vessel; a first pipe coupled to the vessel and
configured to transport the contained and suspended materials from
an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel, wherein the
first pipe includes an attachment selected from the group
consisting of a filter and a drill head or auger; and an agitating
device being configured to suspend the suspended materials and
being selected from the group consisting of a paddle, an auger, a
spray head, a whip, a prop, and a fluid distribution device.
[0008] A third aspect of the present invention provides an
apparatus, comprising: a vessel including a rimmed opening, wherein
when the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a body of water,
wherein the vessel has been configured to contain and suspend
materials inside the vessel; a first pipe coupled to the vessel and
configured to transport the contained and suspended materials from
an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the vessel, wherein the
first pipe includes an attachment selected from the group
consisting of a filter and a drill head or auger; and a filtering
system coupled to the first pipe, the filtering system being
configured to filter the materials transferred through the first
pipe.
[0009] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method
for transporting materials from a bottom of a body of water for
processing, the method comprising: providing a vessel including a
rimmed opening, wherein the rimmed opening is facing a bottom of a
body of water so as to isolate a contained area of the vessel from
the outside of the vessel, wherein the vessel has been configured
to contain and suspend materials inside the vessel; positioning the
vessel such that the opening is facing the bottom of the body of
water and is in direct physical contact with the bottom of the body
of water; containing and suspending the materials inside the vessel
by providing an agitating device coupled to the vessel and selected
from the group consisting of a paddle, an auger, a spray head, a
whip, a prop, and a fluid distribution device; providing a first
pipe coupled to the vessel, wherein the first pipe includes an
attachment selected from the group consisting of a filter and a
drill head or auger; and transporting the contained and suspended
materials from an interior of the vessel to an exterior of the
vessel via the first pipe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for removing and treating
materials in a body of water, the apparatus comprising a vessel,
according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an apparatus for removing and
treating materials in a body of water, according to embodiments of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating
the apparatus of FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating
the apparatus of FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a growth packet for improving the
environment, according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a growth packet for improving the
environment, according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6A illustrates a planting system that can be used for
planting the growth packets of FIGS. 4 and 5, according to
embodiments of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6B illustrates FIG. 6A, including a bottom view of a
planting sled of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method for operating
the planting systems, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 8a illustrates a top view of the vessel of FIG. 1,
coupled to four curtain plates, according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 8b illustrates a perspective view of the vessel and the
curtain plates of FIG. 8a, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 8c illustrates a side view of the vessel and the
curtain plates of FIG. 8a, after the curtain plates have been
lowered to the bottom of a body of water, according to embodiments
of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded side elevation view of the
planting sled, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a Blanket Roll Planting System (BR
Planting System), according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a method for planting using a ram
piston, according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the
apparatus, illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as
depicted in FIG. 2A, supra, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 13 depicts a transverse cross-sectional view of the
apparatus, illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as
depicted in FIG. 2A, supra, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 14 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the
apparatus, illustrating an exploded view of an attachment, as
depicted in FIG. 2A, supra, according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 15 depicts a flow chart illustrating an automated
method of operating the apparatuses as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2A and
2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 16 depicts a schematic block diagram of a computer for
automatically operating the apparatuses as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2A
and 2B, according to embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100, such as a Closed Loop
Extraction Lunch Box ("CLELB"), wherein an open side 90 of the
apparatus 100 may be facing a bottom 80 of the body of water 83,
and an edge 82 of a vessel 110 may be directly and physically in
contact with the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, such that the
contained water and suspended sediment 152, the contained
precipitated sediment 78 and the contained mud 85 may be
essentially completely isolated or separated from an uncontained
area of water and suspended sediment 150, the precipitated sediment
78' and the uncontained mud 85' outside the vessel 110. The body of
water 83 may include water and suspended sediment 150 and the
bottom 80 of the body of water 83, wherein the bottom 80 of the
body of water 83 may include sediment 78', mud 85' and bedrock 87
and may be adjacent to a body of land 160, such as, for example, a
water along a shore, water along an edge of a river, water along an
edge of a lakefront, or water along an edge of a beach.
Alternatively, the edge 82 of the vessel 110 may be directly and
physically in contact with the mud 85 and 85', such that the
contained water and suspended sediment 152, contained precipitated
sediment 78 and contained mud 85 may be essentially completely
isolated or separated from the uncontained area of water and
suspended sediment 150, the uncontained precipitated sediment 78'
and the uncontained mud 85'. Alternatively, the edge 82 of the
vessel 110 may be directly and physically in contact with the
precipitated sediment 78 and 78', such that the contained water and
suspended sediment 152 and contained precipitated sediment 78 may
be essentially completely isolated or separated from the
uncontained area of water and suspended sediment 150 and the
uncontained precipitated sediment 78'. The contained precipitated
sediment portion 78 and an uncontained precipitated sediment
portion 78', may be, for example, contaminated material, the
contained mud portion 85 and the uncontained mud portion 85' may be
a mixture of earth and water so as to be adhesive, and the bedrock
portion 87 may be rock, shale or other hard material that supports
the mud, 85 and 85' and/or sediment, 78 and 78'. In some cases,
some or all of the contained sediment portion 78 and uncontained
sediment portion 78', and/or the contained mud portion 85 and the
uncontained mud portion 85' of the bottom 80 of the body of water
83 may contain levels of chemical contamination, such that the
levels of chemical contamination may be unhealthful or toxic to
people, wildlife, such as fish, or plant life living in the body of
water 83. The chemical contamination may be heavy metals such as
mercury, lead, or other metals such as chromium, magnesium,
manganese, copper, or organics, such as polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB's), dioxins, or halogenated or aromatic solvents such as
trichloroethylene, toluene or benzene. Said levels may be as low as
0 to 100 parts per trillion by weight, for example, or at the
minimum detection limit of modern analytical instruments for
quantifying the level of chemical contamination. In cases for which
the levels of contamination may be unhealthful or toxic, it may be
desirable or necessary to remove the chemically contaminated
portions from the bottom 80 using the apparatus 100 as depicted in
FIG. 1.
[0031] The vessel 110 may comprise: viewing devices 105a and 105b,
such as waterproof cameras, may be used to display the contained
area 93. The vessel 110 may be a compartment-box or any other
appropriate container having water-proof walls. The vessel 110 may
be made of rigid material such as plastic, rubber or metal.
Alternatively, the vessel 110 may be made of flexible material such
as flexible rubber. The vessel 110 may have any appropriate solid
geometric shape such as polygon, cubic, cylindrical, spherical,
pyramidal, rhomboid or conical. Conduits 70 may house coaxial
cables or other appropriate wiring to supply the viewing devices
105a and 105b with electricity and to provide a data highway over
which pictures of the contained area 93 may be projected to another
location for remote viewing. In addition, the viewing devices may
be equipped with lights for illuminating the contained area 93,
such as waterproof electrically powered lights or with light sticks
that may be illuminated by chemiluminescence.
[0032] The apparatus 100 may comprise a "closed loop" piping system
45, wherein a portion of the "closed loop" piping system 45 may be
defined by paths GA, IM, and LN from vessel 110 via exit lines
145a', 145b' and 145c' respectively, and processing system feed
line 60 to a process system 140, such as a filter system, via a
valve 51, wherein the process system 140 may include a pump. A
remaining portion of the "closed loop" piping system 45 may be
defined by paths DH, EJ, and FK to vessel 110 via return lines
147a', 147b', and 147c' respectively, and process system exit lines
62, 149, and 151 via valves 52 and 53. In addition to the filtering
system and the pump, the process system 140 may include viewing,
monitoring, pressure, and vacuum control, material transport,
testing, tooling, and treatment technologies. The treatment
technologies may include the aforementioned treatments, for
example, removal of toxic chemicals or elements by chemical
treatments using additives, reducers, catalysts, microbes,
stabilizers, adhesives, charged particles, gases, or elements. The
apparatus 100, including the process system 140, may bring a
controlled clinical setting out of the laboratory and into the
environment. The apparatus 100 also may include isolation valves
50-55, and 69.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, when bottom 80 of the body of water 83
may be contaminated with chemicals that may be toxic to animals and
humans such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or
trichloroethylene (TCE) or heavy metals such as Pb, As, Cu, or Hg,
the chemical contamination may concentrate in the water and
suspended sediment 150 and 152 of the body of water 83, and/or in
the precipitated sediment 78 and 78', and/or in the mud 85 and 85',
and/or on the bedrock 87 of the bottom 80 of a body of water 83.
The sediment 78 and 78' may include silt particles, wherein fine
silt has a diameter from about 0.002 mm to about 0.006 mm, medium
silt has a diameter from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm, and
coarse silt may be from about 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm. Cleanup
processes involving removal of chemical contamination often target
removal or cleansing treatment of the sediment 78 and 78', such as
silt, because the highest concentration of chemical contaminants
may be in the water and suspended sediment 150 and 152 and/or the
precipitated sediment 78 and 78' due to a higher surface area of
the sediment compared to larger particles of mud 85 and 85'.
[0034] A deficiency of commonly used methods of removal of
contaminated sediment, such as dredging of contaminated material
may be that only a small percentage, sometimes less than 10 percent
by weight of the contaminated material, may be actually removed.
Commonly used methods of dredging to remove contaminated sediment
typically use an open mouthed bucket, such that the water and
suspended sediment 150 and 152, the sediment 78 and 78', and the
mud 85 and 85' may escape back into the body of water 83 by leaking
out of the bucket through the open mouth. Sediment having small
diameter such as sediment in the water and suspended sediment 150
and 152, sediment 78 and 78', such as silt, and/or in the mud 85
and 85', that may be light and fluffy by nature, may be hard to
contain during commonly used methods of removal of contaminated
sediment, such as, for example, dredging operations in the open
mouth bucket, for example. A purpose of the present invention may
be to overcome at least one deficiency of dredging by providing a
container, such as the vessel 110, that may be used to essentially
completely contain the contaminated material that may be in the
body of water 83, such that when the contaminated materials may be
contained in the vessel 110, (and the vessel 210 depicted in FIGS.
2A and 2B and described herein) "the contaminated materials may be
essentially quantitatively removed or essentially quantitatively
converted to, for example, non-toxic or harmless chemical
derivatives. A second purpose of the present invention may be to
overcome the at least one deficiency of dredging by providing a
container, such as the vessels 110, (and the vessel 210 depicted in
FIGS. 2A and 2B and described herein) that may be used to contain
greater than 10% by weight of the contaminated material that may be
in the body of water 83, such that when the contaminated materials
may be contained in the vessel 110, the contaminated materials may
be essentially quantitatively removed or essentially quantitatively
converted to, for example, non-toxic or harmless chemical
derivatives. Hereinafter, "non-toxic or harmless chemical
derivatives" include carbon dioxide, water, and/or hydrogen
chloride. Hereinafter, "essentially quantitative removal or
essentially quantitative conversion" of the chemical contamination
means removal or conversion of essentially 100% by weight of the
essentially completely contained contaminated materials.
Hereinafter, "contaminated materials" may include portions of the
water and suspended sediment 150 and 152, the precipitated sediment
78 and 78', the mud 85 and 85' and the bedrock 87 that have been
contaminated with chemicals that may be toxic or harmful to people,
wildlife, or vegetation. Alternatively, "contaminated materials"
may include portions of the water and suspended sediment 150 and
152, the precipitated sediment 78 and 78', the mud 85 and 85' and
the bedrock 87 that have been tainted by other forms of waste such
as sewage, sludge or industrial waste that may foul a body of water
83.
[0035] The contaminated material in the bottom 80 of the body of
water 83 may be located as to longitude and latitude coordinates in
the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, such as in the locations 89
and 91, by testing samples from the locations 89 and 91, using any
appropriate testing method for detecting and/or quantifying parts
per trillion levels or higher of the chemicals or other form of
waste, and mapping the concentrations of the contaminants, such as
chemical contaminants, from locations 89 and 91 according to the
longitude and latitude coordinates from which the sample(s)
originated. Hereinafter, mapping means creating a map showing
locations on the surface of the earth, as to longitude and latitude
coordinates, that may relate concentrations of the contaminants,
such as chemical contaminants, according to the longitude and
latitude coordinates (e.g. of locations 89 and 91) from which the
samples were taken. The longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of
the locations 89 and 91 may be determined using any appropriate
mapping system, such as, for example, a Geographical Positioning
System (GPS) 40. If tests show the concentration of the
contamination, such as chemical contamination, at a location, e.g.
89 or 91, may be sufficiently high designating the locations as
being harmful or toxic to people, wildlife or vegetation, because
of sufficiently high contamination, such as chemical contamination,
the apparatus 100 may be used to remove the contamination, such as
the chemical contamination, as described infra in a method 600 for
removing chemical contaminants, as depicted in FIG. 3A. Even 1 part
per trillion levels of certain chemical contaminants such as heavy
metals, PCB's or dioxins have been found to be sufficiently high to
warrant that the chemical contamination may be harmful or toxic to
people, wildlife or vegetation.
[0036] In the step 620 of the method 600, the apparatus 100 may be
positioned over the location designated as having a level harmful
to humans, wildlife or vegetation, such as over one or both
locations 89 and 91 of the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, as
depicted in FIG. 1, resulting in essentially completely containing
the contaminated material that may be in the regions 89 and/or 91,
such as in contaminated water and suspended sediment 152, and/or in
the contaminated precipitated sediment 78, and/or in the
contaminated mud 85, and/or in the contaminated bedrock 87, in the
vessel 110.
[0037] The vessel 110 may be "lowered" into position by mechanical
or other means, in accordance with the step 620 of the method 600,
as described infra, and depicted in FIG. 3A. By removing
air/water/materials out of an interior 93 of the vessel 110, as
described in the step 650 of the method 600, a weight of the vessel
110 may drive the edge 82 of the vessel 110 deeper into the bottom
80 of the body of water 83, resulting in creating a releasable seal
95 at the edge 82 of the vessel 110, that may be formed from
sediment 78' and mud 85' of the bottom 80 outside of the vessel 110
pressing against the edge 82 and either sediment 78, mud 85 or the
bedrock 87, depending on how deep the vessel 110 was driven. The
releasable seal 95 thereby may isolate the interior 93 from the
water 150, and/or the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, that may
be outside the vessel 110.
[0038] In the positioning step 620 of the method 600, the vessel
110 may be partially submerged or completely submerged below the
surface 170 of the body of water 83, as long as the edge 82
directly and physically contacts the bottom 80 of the body of water
83.
[0039] In the containing and suspending step 630 of the method 600,
paddles 125a and 125b, such as augers, spray heads, whips, props,
fluid and gas distribution devices, etc. may provide agitation of
the interior 93 of the vessel 110, resulting in suspending a
portion or essentially all of the bottom material, e.g., 78, or 85
of the bottom 80 that may be contained in the interior 93 of the
vessel 110, wherein the suspended portion may include the
contaminated material. The contaminated material may be a range
from 0-100 percent by weight of the total material of the bottom 80
in the interior 93 of the vessel 110.
[0040] In the step 630, a rate of agitation necessary to suspend
the contaminated material, for example, in locations 89 and 91 may
be empirically determined, based on the weight percent of the
bottom material targeted for removal, wherein higher agitation may
be needed to suspend more of the portion of the bottom 80 having
contaminated material. The contaminated suspended material in the
water and suspended material 152 may be conveyed through the
"closed loop" piping system 45 to a processing system 140 such as a
filter system having in-line chemical testing equipment in order to
identify the suspended materials that may be contaminated and to
separate them from a fluid such as water in the suspended material
and water 152. In one embodiment, the identified suspended material
that may be contaminated can be conveyed from the interior 93 of
the vessel 110 through the exit lines 145a', 145b' and 145c',
through the processing system feed line 60, through the valve 51 to
the processing system 140 where the contaminated suspended
materials may be removed. The separated fluid can be recycled back
into the vessel 110 through the valve 53, the process system exit
lines 62 and 149, the valve 52, the process system exit line 51,
the return lines 147a', 147b', and 147c', and finally back to the
interior 93 of the vessel 110. A rate of removal of contaminated
materials such as, e.g., contaminated soil and silt, from the
vessel 110 and rate of return of the processed fluids and processed
contaminated material, such as, e.g., soil and silt, to the vessel
110 may be controlled such that an essentially net zero pressure
difference may be measured between the interior 93 and the outside
of the vessel 110, e.g. at the open rim 90 of the vessel 110, and
at the releasable seal 95 that may be formed from bottom 80, e.g.,
sediment 78' and mud 85' of the bottom 80, outside of the vessel
110 that may releasably seal the edge 82 onto either sediment 78,
mud 85 or the bedrock 87, depending how deep the vessel 110 was
driven. Therefore, in the steps 650-660, essentially no
contaminated suspended material may escape from the essentially
complete containment provided by the apparatus 100 during operation
of the "closed loop" piping system 45 as described in the steps
610-670 of the method 600, as described infra and depicted in FIG.
3A. "Additives" or "reducers" (catalysts, microbes, stabilizers,
adhesives, charged particles, gases, elements, known or unknown)
can be fed from feed line 143 into the "closed loop" piping system
45 through valve 50.
[0041] An efficiency of the processing system 140 may be determined
by comparing a turbidity of the fluid in the return lines 147a',
147b', and 147c' to the turbidity of the fluid and suspended soil
and silt in the exit lines 145a', 145b' and 145c'. It has been
found that the percent efficiency of removal of contaminated
material by filtering may be essentially 100.0% if the processing
system 140 may include 0.2 to 100 micron paper or cloth filters,
wherein the percent efficiency may be determined by converting a
ratio of the turbidity of the fluid into the processing system 140
and the turbidity of the fluid out of the processing system 140 to
percent. Efficiency between 50% and 95% may be achieved using sand
filters such as for filtering swimming pools, having #20 silica
with a particle diameter of the sand being from about 0.40 mm to
about 0.50 mm, available from Jandy, PO Box 6000, Petaluma, Calif.
94955-6000. Recommended sands may be sand grade 0.45 mm to about
0.55, having an average diameter of 0.46 mm, available from
Wedron/Best Sand Company, or sand grade 0.45 mm to about 0.55 mm,
having an average diameter of 0.48 mm, available from U.S.
Silica/Silurian Filter Sand. Weight of sand for charging the filter
may be determined by one skilled in the art with a minimum of
experimentation based on choosing a weight of sand appropriate to
filter 2.0 to 2.5 times the volume of suspended sediment and water
in the vessel 110 per hour, without exceeding 50 psi internal
pressure in the sand filter. The processing system 140 can be a
micro-filtration system or a chemical reaction process that may be
activated by light such as lasers, light emitting diodes including
laser emitting diodes, UV or thermal energy. Once monitoring levels
are met, recycled materials, such as the treated contaminated
materials or growth packets 780 and 900, as depicted in FIGS. 4 and
5, infra, may be returned into the vessel 110, through the
closed-loop piping system 45, enabling the materials to settle out,
resulting in refilling the extraction site with soil or silt,
wherein the chemical contamination has been sufficiently removed
such that the soil or silt meets monitoring levels and wherein
erosion of the river bottom 80 of the body of water 83 may be
minimized because the returned recycled materials, such as filtered
or processed soil or silt re-fills any holes left when the vessel
110 may be withdrawn for relocation to another contaminated
location of the river bottom.
[0042] The vessel 110 allows for removals "in place" with
continuous monitoring and minimal exposure to the surroundings.
This process 140 exists for extraction without released
re-suspension.
[0043] In one embodiment, the present invention solves the problem
of containing the contaminated material by providing a
resealable/sealable vessel 110 for sampling, viewing, monitoring,
separating, testing, treating, injecting, replacing or removing
contaminated materials that include silt, sludge, stone materials,
ores, metals, or elements, etc. from a bottom 80 of a body of water
83.
[0044] Generally, the present invention may be an apparatus 100 for
sampling, viewing monitoring, separating, testing, treating,
injecting, replacing or removing materials that include silt,
sludge, stone materials, ores, metals, or elements, etc. from a
bottom of a body of fluids, such as, for example, a chemically
contaminated bottom 80 of a body of water 83. The apparatus 100 may
comprise an open-faced vessel 110, a global positioning device 40,
and a closed loop piping system 45.
[0045] The open faced vessel 110 may form a releasable seal 95 with
the bottom 80 of the body of water 83 and may include at least one
agitator 125a, 125b, 135a, 135b, 135c, 135d, and 127 for suspending
portions of contaminated materials from the bottoms such as, for
example, silt, sludge, stone materials, ores, metals, or elements,
etc. Power station 120 may provide power, such as, for example,
mechanical or electrical power. The at least one agitator 125a,
125b, 135a, 135b, 135c, 135d, and 127 may also may include at least
one outlet port 145a, 145b, and 145c through which a mixture of the
portions of the bottoms and water may be withdrawn from the vessel
110 for monitoring, separating, testing, treating, injecting,
replacing, or removing the portions. The agitators may be variable
speed impellers 125a and 125b, whip 127 or nozzles 135a, 135b,
135c, 135d for directing a stream of water or air at variable
pressures from any appropriate device, such as, air or water jets
130. The area sampled may be any area equivalent to the area of
contamination, such as, e.g., chemical contamination, limited only
by practical considerations such as costs of materials and benefit
from minimizing the number of relocations of the vessel 110 in
order to sample the contaminated area. In one embodiment the vessel
110 or 210 (as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and described herein)
may be from about 1-1,000,000 sq. ft. to sample the area of
contamination. The vessel 110, impellers 125a and 125b, whips 127
or nozzles 135a, 135b, 135c, 135d may be metal, or metal alloy,
such as, for example, carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel,
rubber, plastic or composites.
[0046] The global positioning device (GPD) 40 or other appropriate
computerized positioning device may be for determining a position
of the vessel to within +/-0.12 inches of, for example, a known
chemically contaminated site on the bottom 80 of the body of water
83.
[0047] The process system 140 may include a two directional pump
for circulating materials into and out of the vessel 110. It may be
possible for a vacuum or negative pressure to result in the vessel
110 if the closed loop piping system 45 may be under a vacuum when
the contaminated materials, such as, for example, the water and
suspended sediment, 152, silt, 78, or mud, 85 inside the vessel 110
may be removed from the vessel 110 and drawn into the piping system
45, wherein the releasable seal 95 may prevent relief of the
vacuum, such as, by leakage of materials, such as, for example,
uncontaminated silt, 78', uncontaminated mud, 85' or uncontaminated
water 150 into the vessel 110. Alternatively, it may be possible
for a positive pressure to result in the vessel 110 if the closed
loop piping system 45 may be full of air or any other compressible
fluid when the contaminated materials, such as, for example, the
water and suspended sediment, 152, silt, 78, or mud, 85 inside the
vessel 110 may be removed from the vessel 110 and drawn into the
piping system 45, wherein the releasable seal 95 may prevent relief
of the pressure buildup by leakage of materials, such as, for
example, the water and suspended sediment, 152, silt, 78, or mud,
85 out of the vessel 110. A portion of the contaminated materials,
such as, for example, sediment, 78, such as silt, that may be
higher in chemical contamination, may be removed from the water by
the processing system 140, such as, e.g., micro-filters, and water
and remaining portions of the material, such as, for example, mud,
85, may be returned to the vessel 110. The processing system 140,
such as, e.g., the micro-filters may be cleaned to remove
chemically contaminated materials, such as, e.g., silt or other
micro-materials, with high frequency bursts of pressure or by ultra
sonic bursts during periods when the "closed loop" apparatus 100
may be inactive. The monitoring may include testing for chemicals
or elements, known, or unknown, such as polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCB), dioxin, and other toxic chemical solvents such as
trichloroethylene (TCE). The treatment may include, for example,
removal of toxic chemicals or elements by, for example, chemical
treatments using additives, reducers, catalysts, microbes,
stabilizers, adhesives, charged particles, gases, or elements. Once
treated, cleaned, separated materials, such as the portions absent
the silt, may be returned to the bottom 80 of the body of water 83
via the closed loop piping system 45.
[0048] In summary, the claimed invention may allow for removals "in
place" with continuous monitoring and minimal exposure to the
surroundings. The claimed process may extract toxic chemicals from
portions of the bottom 80 or may remove silt and/or may return
remaining portions of the bottoms in areas as small as 1 square
feet with exact positioning within +1-0.12 inches of, for example,
a known chemically contaminated site on the bottom of the body of
water 83.
[0049] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an apparatus 200, such as an Open
or Closed Loop Extraction Lunch Box, OCLELB, comprising at least
one "open or closed loop" piping system(s) 188, according to
embodiments of the present invention. The apparatus 200 may
comprise, illustratively, a vessel 210, at least one pipe(s) 245a,
245b, 245c, 247a, 247b, 247c, and 248, at least one agitating
device(s) 235a, 235b, 235c, 235d, 225a, 225b, and 227, at least one
observing device(s) 205a, 205a' and 205b, 205b', at least one
sample site(s) 310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d, at least one processing
system(s) 320, and/or a filter system 330, and/or a by-pass system
340, and/or a contaminants holding site 350, and/or a clean holding
site 360, and/or an adder site 370, and/or a pump 380, and/or a
power station 390, and/or at least one isolation valve(s) 405-482.
The growth packet 780, as depicted in FIG. 4 and described in
associated text, may be pumped by systems such as the apparatuses
100 or 200 or planting systems 1000, or 3000, depicted in FIGS. 6A,
9, and 10, infra, used to pump growth packets 900 and 3110 into
soil whether above or below waterline as in river bottoms for soil
erosion control.
[0050] The vessel 210 may comprise an opening 210' adapted for
facing and being in direct physical contact with the bottom 180 of
a body of water 250 so as to form a contained area 274 inside the
vessel 210. The body of water 220 may include water and suspended
sediment 250 and bottom 180 of the body of water 220, wherein the
bottom 180 of the body of water 220 includes sediment 270 and
bedrock 280. The vessel 210 may be made of rigid material such as
plastic, rubber or metal. Alternatively, the vessel 210 may be made
of flexible material such as flexible rubber. The vessel 210 may
have any appropriate solid geometric shape such as polygon, cubic,
cylindrical, spherical, pyramidal, rhomboid or conical. The vessel
210 can be made of steel, plastic, or any material that can isolate
and contain air and liquids. In one embodiment, a flexible skirt
185 may extend a rim 183 of the vessel 210, to provide a flexible
extension of the rim 183, wherein the flexible skirt 185 may wrap
around rocks or other solid debris on the bottom 180 of the body of
water 250, enabling the flexible skirt 185 of the vessel 210 to be
in direct physical contact with the bottom 180 so as to isolate the
contained area 274 of the vessel 210 from the outside of the
vessel, even though the rim 183 may be prevented from physically
contacting the bottom 180 because it may not be able to penetrate
the rock or debris. In one embodiment, the vessel 210 may comprise
one or more hooks 214a and 214b. Illustratively, the hook 214b can
be used for coupling via cable 186 with a lifting device 182 such
as a crane, wherein the lifting device 182 may be secured to a
floating vessel 181 such as a boat or barge. The vessel 210 can
have any shape that facilitates its movement (lifting and lowering)
in or out of the water or to enable it to circumvent rocks or
debris on the bottom 180 of the body of water 250.
[0051] In one embodiment, the at least one pipe(s) 248 can comprise
an attachment 248'', wherein the attachment 248'' may be
operatively coupled to the pipe 248 at an opening 248' of the at
least one pipe(s) 248. The attachment 248'' may be a drill head or
auger to facilitate inserting the at least one pipe(s) 248 into the
bottom 180 of the body of water 220. The attachment 248'' of the at
least one pipe(s) 248, when the attachment 248'' may be a drill
head or auger, can be used for performing core sampling, wherein a
core sample is a sample of soil or sediment from the bottom 180 of
the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment,
with the help of the attachment 248'', such as, for example, the
drill head or auger, the at least one pipe(s) 248 may be inserted
into the bottom of the body of water 220 such that a column of the
bottom materials (i.e., a core sample) may be inserted into the
interior of the at least one pipe(s) 248. The attachment 248'',
such as the drill head or auger, may be mounted on a drill head or
auger sled for easy positioning, such as the planting sled 1040 of
the apparatus 1000 as depicted in FIGS. 6A and 9 and described
herein, wherein the attachment 248'', such as the drill head or
auger may be substituted for the ram piston 3220, as depicted in
FIG. 10, infra. Then, the core sample can be transported via the at
least one pipe(s) 248 out of the interior 274 of the vessel 210 for
testing.
[0052] Alternatively the attachment 248'' may be a filter. FIG. 12,
infra, depicts a transverse cross section of the attachment 248'',
when the attachment 248'' may be a filter.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the at least one
agitating device(s) 235a, 235b, 235c, and 235d can be in the form
of a nozzle through which a fluid (usually water) may be pumped
under high pressure into the interior 274 of the vessel 210 so as
to agitate the materials inside the vessel 210. Each of the at
least one agitating device(s) 225a and 225b can be an impeller
having multiple blades. The at least one agitating devices 225a and
225b can be powered by a power station 390.
[0054] The at least one agitating device(s) 227 can have the form
of a whip having multiple branches. Each branch may have a hollow
core through which water (or other fluids) can be pumped under high
pressure into the interior 274 of the vessel 210 so as to agitate
the materials inside the vessel 210. The whip 227 can spin or
rotate while water may be being pumped through it into the interior
274 of the vessel 210. Similar to the at least one device(s) 225a
and 225b, the at least one agitating device(s) 227 can also be
powered by the power station 390.
[0055] In one embodiment, the at least one observing device(s)
205a, 205a' can comprise a sonar head 205a and a sonar display
205a'. The sonar head 205a can be used for collecting information
about the thickness of the sediment layer 270. The sonar display
205a' can be used for displaying the information collected by the
sonar head 205a.
[0056] In one embodiment, the at least one observing device(s)
205b, 205b' can comprise a camera 205b and a display 205a'. The
camera 205b can be used for collecting image data inside the vessel
210. The display 205a' can be used for displaying the image data
collected by the camera 205b. The camera 205b can include a light
bulb (not shown) that can emit light sufficiently strong for
viewing the entire interior 274 of the vessel 210. In one
embodiment, the at least one observing device(s) 205b, 205b' can be
used as a camera for determining if the vessel 210 may be lowered
upon an uneven bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as a river
bottom or upon a rock or debris at the river bottom. If so, the
position of the vessel 210 can be adjusted such that the edge of
the vessel 210 would touch the river bottom so as to isolate the
interior 274 of the vessel 210 from the outside of the vessel
210.
[0057] FIG. 3A illustrates a flow chart of a method 600 for
transporting materials from a bottom of a body of water for
processing, the method comprising (a) providing a vessel including
an opening, (b) positioning the vessel such that the opening may be
facing the bottom of the body of water and may be in direct
physical contact with the bottom of the body of water, (c)
containing and suspending the materials inside the vessel, (d)
providing a first pipe coupled to the vessel, and (e) transporting,
via the first pipe, the suspended materials from an interior of the
vessel to an exterior of the vessel. The method 600 can be used for
operating the apparatus 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to
embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 2A,
2B, and 3A, the method 600 starts at step 610 in which a vessel 210
having an opening 210' may be provided. Then, in step 620, the
vessel 210 may be positioned at the bottom 180 of the body of water
220 such as the bottom of a river (or any other body of water). In
one embodiment, the vessel 210 may be positioned, wherein the
opening 210' may face a location 190 of contaminated material such
as, for example, chemically contaminated material. The location 190
may have been positioned on a map as to its longitude and latitude
coordinates using aforementioned chemical mapping techniques, such
that an operator of the apparatus 200 may be able to position the
apparatus 200 over the location 190 of contaminated material, as
depicted in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, the operator of the
apparatus 200 may lower the apparatus 200 by a crane 182 using the
hooks 214a and 214b to the location 190 of a first untreated
position at the bottom 180 of the body of water 220 such that the
opening 210' may be facing the bottom 180. In one embodiment, the
location 190 of the first untreated position may be located using a
GPS device 255. In one embodiment, the pump 380 may pull materials
including air, water, bottom material such as sediment and/or mud
from the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least one
pipe(s) 245a, 245b, and 245c, resulting in drawing a rim 183 into
the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as the river bottom,
such that the rim 183 may have physically and directly contacted
the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, resulting in forming a
releasable seal 257 with the bottom 180 of the body of water 220,
such as a river bottom. In some embodiments, no air/water may
remain inside the vessel 210. The pump 380 can continue to pull
air/water out of the vessel 210 so as to further decrease the
pressure inside the vessel 210. As a result, the vessel 210 may be
releasably sealed into the bottom 180 of the body of water 220,
such as the sediment layer 270 above the bedrock 280. In general,
the pump 380 can be used for moving suspended materials 252'
throughout the apparatus 200, resulting in removal or chemical
conversion of the contaminated material from the bottom 180 of the
body of water 220. As a result, materials may flow from the
interior 274 of the vessel 210 out of the vessel 210. Also, pumping
materials into the interior 274 of the vessel 210 after completing
methods 600 or 700 may release the releasable seal 257, allowing
the vessel 210 to release from the bottom 180 of the body of water
220, such as the river bottom. The pump 380 can also be used for
pumping materials (mostly water) out of the vessel 210 so as to
decrease the pressure inside the vessel 210. As a result, materials
will flow into the interior 274 of the vessel 210 from the at least
one pipe(s) 147 a, b, c. Also, pumping materials out of the vessel
210 may increase a strength of the releasable seal 257 between the
vessel 210 and the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as the
river bottom.
[0058] In one embodiment, the vessel 210 may be designed to be
airtight on all sides except the opening 210'. As a result, when
the vessel 210 has been inserted in the bottom 180 of the body of
water 220, such as the sediment layer 270 at the bottom of the
river, the materials inside the vessel 210 (i.e., in the interior
274) may be essentially completely isolated from an exterior of the
vessel 210.
[0059] Next, in step 630, materials inside the vessel 210 may be
essentially completely contained and suspended inside the vessel
210. In the containing and suspending step 630 of the method 600,
paddles 225a and 225b, such as augers, spray heads, whips, props,
fluid and gas distribution devices, etc. may provide agitation of
the interior 252 of the vessel 210, resulting in suspending a
portion or essentially all of the bottom material, e.g., 270, or
280 of the body of water 220 that may be contained in the interior
252 of the vessel 210, wherein the suspended portion may include
the contaminated material. In one embodiment, the at least one
agitating device(s) 235a, 235b, 235c, 235d, 225a, 225b, and 227 may
be operated to suspend the contaminated material in the mixture
252' in the interior 252 of the vessel 210. As a result, the
contaminated materials in the bottom 180 of the body of water 220,
such as, e.g., the contaminated materials in the sediment layer 270
may form a mixture 252' by removing contaminated materials from the
sediment layer 270 and interspersing the contaminated materials
with water in the interior 252 of the vessel 210. As long as
agitation continues, the contaminated materials such as, e.g., the
contaminated sediment in the mixture 252' do not precipitate to the
bottom. In other words, the contaminated sediment materials in the
mixture 252' may be said to be suspended in the mixture 252'. In
step 630, the mixture 252' that may contain contaminated sediment
materials may be essentially completely contained and suspended in
the mixture 252' in the interior 252 of the vessel 210.
[0060] Then, in step 640, an at least one pipe(s) 245 may be
provided which may be coupled to the vessel 210. In one embodiment,
the at least one pipe(s) 245 may branch as at least one branch
pipe(s) 245a, 245b, and 245c. Then, in step 650, the materials
suspended inside the vessel 210 may be transported out of the
vessel 210 through the pipe 245 for processing. More specifically,
the mixture 252' containing the removed and suspended contaminated
sediment materials may be transported out of the vessel 210 via the
pipe 245 for processing.
[0061] Each of the at least one isolation valve(s) 405-482 can be
either open or closed. If open, the at least one isolation valve(s)
405-482 may allow fluid to pass through. When closed, the valve(s)
prevents fluid from passing through. The valves 405-482 in the
apparatus 200 can be used for isolating different portions of the
apparatus 200. By opening some of the valves 405-482 and closing
the remaining valves, materials can be carried around the apparatus
200 along a desired path for processing. In one embodiment, in
order to keep the pressure inside the vessel 210 unchanged,
materials (e.g., air or water) may be allowed to flow from the
clean holding site 360 to the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via
the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470, and the at least one
pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c. The clean holding site 360 can be
used for holding a filtrate transported from the interior 274 of
the vessel 210 via the filtering system 330. The materials in the
clean holding site 360 can undergo further processing and treatment
before being either transported back into the interior 274 of the
vessel 210 or shipped elsewhere. The adder site 370 can be used for
holding materials to be added to the interior 274 of the vessel
210. In one embodiment, each of the at least one valve(s) 446, 464,
and 470 may be configured to become open when the pressure
difference between its two ends exceeds some pre-specified value.
As a result, when the mixture 252' containing the removed sediment
materials may be pumped out of the vessel 210 via the pipe 245, the
at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470 may automatically open to
allow materials (e.g., air and/or water and/or treatment chemicals
to convert toxic or harmful contaminants into carbon dioxide, water
or HCl) to flow from the clean holding site 360 to the interior 274
of the vessel 210. Therefore, the pressure inside the vessel 210
may remain unchanged.
[0062] Then, in step 660, the materials transported out of the
vessel 210 may be processed outside the vessel 210. In one
embodiment, the mixture 252' containing the removed contaminated
sediment can be transported from inside the vessel 210 to the
processing system 320 via the at least one pipe(s) 245a, 245b, and
245c (i.e., the branches off pipe 245) and the at least one valves
432 and 410. In the processing system 320, the mixture 252' can
undergo thermal, chemical, radiation, or other processes so as to
treat (remove, alter, etc.) the contaminants from the mixture 252'
so they become less or nontoxic. After processing, the mixture 252'
can be transported either back to the interior 274 of the vessel
210 via the at least one valve(s) 412, 422, 436, 464, and 470 and
the at least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c or to the clean
holding site 360 via the at least one valve(s) 412, 422, 436, and
446. The materials in the clean holding site 360 can be returned to
the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s)
446, 464, and 470, and the at least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and
247c.
[0063] In one embodiment, the mixture 252' can be transported to
the filtering system 330 via the at least one valve(s) 440 so that
contaminants in the mixture 252' can be filtered out. The filtered
contaminants can be periodically removed from the filter system
330. The remaining mixture after filtering can be transported
either back to the interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least
one valve(s) 442, 454, 462, and 470 and the at least one pipe(s)
247a, 247b, and 247c or to the clean holding site 360 via the at
least one valve(s) 442, 444, and 446. The materials in the clean
holding site 360 can be returned to the interior 274 of the vessel
210 via the at least one valve(s) 446, 464, and 470, and the at
least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c.
[0064] In one embodiment, the mixture 252' containing the removed
sediment materials can be transported from inside the vessel 210 to
the contaminants holding site 350 via the at least one pipe(s)
245a, 245b, and 245c, the valve 450, the by-pass system 340, and
the at least one valve(s) 452, 454, 444, 436, and 424. In the
contaminants holding site 350, the mixture may undergo processes
similar to those in the processing system 320 described above.
After being processed at the contaminants holding site 350, the
mixture can be transported either back to the interior 274 of the
vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 424, 436, 464, and 470 and
the at least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c or to the clean
holding site 360 via the at least one valve(s) 424, 436, and 446.
The materials in the clean holding site 360 can be returned to the
interior 274 of the vessel 210 via the at least one valve(s) 446,
464, and 470 and the at least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c.
[0065] The concentration of contaminants may be monitored along the
at least one path(s) by locating an at least one sample site(s)
310a, 310b, 310c, and 310d on the at least one path(s) of the
mixture 252' from the vessel 210 before and after processing.
[0066] More specifically, the sample site 310a may be directly
coupled via the valve 431 to a node A1 which the mixture 252' from
the inside of the vessel 210 flows through before going to
different destinations. Here, "directly coupled" means that there
may be no processing in between. As a result, samples of the
mixture 252' before processing can be taken via the valve 431 from
the sample site 310a, such that the concentration of the
contaminants in the mixture 252' before processing can be measured.
In one embodiment, in the step 670 of the method 600, when the
measured concentration of the contaminants may be below a
pre-specified level, the processing may be stopped and either (i)
the vessel 210 may be lifted from the current location and lowered
and inserted into another location on the bottom of the body of
water 220 or (ii) more sediment materials from the top of the
sediment layer 270 may be removed by agitation as described above
for further processing. In one embodiment, the pre-specified level
of contaminants can be specified by the owner(s) of the body of
water 250 (FIG. 2A) or authorities responsible for cleaning the
sediment 270 (FIG. 2A).
[0067] Similarly, the sample site 310b may be directly coupled via
the valve 434 to a node A2 which the mixture 252' from the
filtering system 330 exits through before going to different
destinations. As a result, samples of the mixture 252' after
filtering can be taken via the valve 434 to the sample site 310b
where the concentration of the contaminants in the mixture after
filtering can be measured so that the quality of the filtering
process can be monitored.
[0068] Similarly, the sample site 310c may be directly coupled via
the valve 460 to a node A3 which the mixture 252' after processing
flows through before returning to the interior 274 of the vessel
210 via the at least one pipe(s) 247a, 247b, and 247c. As a result,
the sample site 310c can be used for monitoring a concentration of
contaminants in the mixture 252' that flows back to the interior
274 of the vessel 210, after processing.
[0069] Similarly, the sample site 310d may be directly coupled via
the valve 414 to a node A4 which the mixture 252' from the
processing system 320 exits through before going to different
destinations. As a result, samples of the mixture 252' after
processing can be taken via the valve 414 to the sample site 310d
where the concentration of the contaminants in the mixture after
processing can be measured so that the quality of the processes
performed in the processing system 320 can be monitored.
[0070] In step 670, a determination may be made as to whether the
materials transported out of the vessel 210 may be sufficiently
clean (i.e., the concentration of the contaminants in the resulting
mixture 252' has been reduced to a pre-specified level). If the
answer may be negative, the method 600 loops back to step 650. In
other words, suspended materials continue to be transported out of
the vessel 210 (step 650) and processed (step 660) so as to remove
contaminants. If the answer to the question in step 670 is
affirmative, the method 600 may stop. Then, the vessel 210 may be
removed from the current location and positioned at another
location on the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, and the method
600 may be performed again. In one embodiment, after the sediment
layer 270 inside the vessel 210 has been treated to a satisfactory
level (i.e., the concentration of the contaminants in the resulting
mixture 252' has been reduced to a pre-specified level), a
contaminants map may be updated to indicate that the current
location has been treated. Then, a determination may be made as to
whether the current location may be the last one to be treated. If
the answer is negative, the vessel 210 can be lifted and lowered to
the next untreated location using a lifting device such as a crane
182 coupled to the hooks 214a and 214b. If the answer to the
question is affirmative, the operation may be concluded.
[0071] FIG. 3B illustrates a flow chart of a method 700 for
processing contaminated material at a bottom of a body of water,
the method comprising (a) providing a vessel including an opening,
(b) placing the vessel such that the opening may be facing a layer
of contaminated material on the bottom of the body of water and may
be in direct physical contact with a top layer of the contaminated
material, (c) containing and suspending, within the vessel, the
contaminated material in an interior of the vessel, and (d)
suspending the contaminated material until a pre-specified
thickness of the top layer of the contaminated material may be
suspended in the interior of the vessel. The method 700 can be used
for operating the apparatus 200 of FIGS. 2A and 2B, according to
embodiments of the present invention. The step 710 of the method
700 may be similar to the steps 610 of the method 600. In other
words, in step 710, the vessel 210 having the opening 210' may be
provided. In step 720, the vessel 210 may be placed at the first
untreated location at the bottom 80 of the body of water 83, such
as the river bottom.
[0072] In step 730, materials inside the vessel 210 may be
contained and suspended inside the vessel 210. In one embodiment,
the at least one agitating device(s) 235a, 235b, 235c, 235d, 225a,
225b, and 227 may be operated to stir up (i.e., agitate) the water
252, that may be inside vessel 210. A chemical contamination map
may be used which shows how deep the sediment layer 270 may be
contaminated with a certain contaminant. In step 740, the materials
suspended in step 730 may be processed to eliminate the
contaminants. In step 750, a determination may be made as to
whether a pre-specified thickness of the sediment layer 270 may be
suspended in the mixture 252' inside the vessel 210. If the answer
is negative, the method 700 loops back to step 730. In other words,
steps 730 and 740 may be performed until the pre-specified
thickness of the sediment layer 270 may be suspended in the mixture
252' inside the vessel 210. If the answer to the question in step
750 is affirmative, the method 700 stops. After that, the vessel
210 can be lifted and placed at another untreated location 190 of
the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, and the method 700 may be
performed again at the other untreated location. In one embodiment,
the at least one observing device(s) 205a, 205a' and 205b, 205b'
can be used to monitor the thickness of the sediment layer 270 so
as to determine whether agitation has reached the desired depth.
For example, assume, according to the contaminant map, that at the
location where the vessel 210 may be inserted into the sediment
layer 270, the thickness of the sediment layer 270 may be 25
inches. Assume further that only the top 10 inches of the sediment
layer 270 contain the contaminant according to the contaminant map.
As a result, the at least one agitating device(s) 235a, 235b, 235c,
235d, 225a, 225b, and 227 may be allowed to operate until the at
least one observing device(s) 205a, 205a' and 205b, 205b' determine
that the thickness of the sediment layer 270 has been reduced to 15
inches.
[0073] In one embodiment, the step 740 of the method 700 can be
similar to the step 660 of the method 600. In other words, the
mixture 252' containing the suspended sediment materials can be
transported out of the vessel 210 via the at least one pipe(s)
245a, 245b, and 245c for treatment. Alternatively, in step 740, the
mixture 252' can be treated inside the vessel 210 instead of being
transported out of the vessel 210 for processing (treatment). In
one embodiment, treating chemicals can be added using the adder
site 370 (FIG. 2B). As described above, the agitation and treating
processes (i.e., steps 730 and 740, respectively) may be stopped
when agitation reaches the desired depth.
[0074] FIG. 4 illustrates a growth packet 780 for improving the
environment, according to embodiments of the present invention. The
growth packet 780 may comprise an outer wall 790, that may contain
plants (e.g., cuttings, roots, tubers, seeds, etc.), nutrients, and
soil organisms (not shown) necessary to accelerate plant growth in
a green house growing effect that shelters new growth from the
forces of nature. Hereinafter, a tuber may be a stem of a plant
having buds, or eyes in the axils of minute scale leaves of the
tuber, wherein the buds or eyes may grow into new plants. In some
embodiments, the growth packet 780 may be a "self-contained growth
packet" when the outer wall 790 of the growth packet 780 may
contain "self-contained growth materials" such as, for example,
sufficient nutrients such as fertilizers, minerals, solid support,
and/or such as, for example, soil around the roots of the incipient
plant for the plant to grow even though it may be placed in an
otherwise sterile and barren bed, such as, for example, a barren
river bed, that may be barren because it may be devoid of said
self-contained growth materials such as the nutrients and solid
support needed for the plant to grow. In one embodiment, a diameter
of the growth packet 780 may be from about one inch to twelve
inches.
[0075] In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be prepackaged
as a high-energy growing pod and may have any shape such as a round
shape to facilitate easy planting, for example, in the river
bed.
[0076] The growth packet 780 may be pumped by systems such as the
apparatuses 100 or 200 or planting systems 1000, or 3000, depicted
in FIGS. 6A, 9, and 10, infra, used to pump growth packets 900 and
3110 into soil whether above or below waterline as in river bottoms
for soil erosion control. Plants in the growth packet 780 may be
selected that have a positive tropism to light, such that the
plants will grow toward the source of light and will be properly
oriented for growing toward the source of light regardless whether
they may be pumped into the soil root down or stem down.
[0077] In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 may be designed
such that its weight makes it sink into the soil at the bottom 180
of the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described
supra. In an alternative embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be
designed such that its weight allows it to float. In one
embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be equipped with an
air-bladder to float as in hydroponics farming.
[0078] In one embodiment, the growth packet 780 can be filled with
soil and water organisms necessary to restart damaged ecology
systems such as brown field sites, slag heaps, run off ponds,
lagoons, fire sites, harbors, etc.
[0079] FIG. 5 illustrates a growth packet 900 for improving the
environment, according to embodiments of the present invention. The
growth packet 900 may comprise plants (e.g., cuttings, roots,
tubers, seeds, etc.), self-contained growth materials such as, for
example, nutrients, and soil organisms (not shown) necessary for
sustaining and accelerating self-contained plant growth within an
outer wall 910. The growth packet 900 may shelter new growth from
the forces of nature such as providing a green house environment,
such that heat and carbon dioxide may be retained, while allowing
absorption of light to generate the heat and promote photosynthesis
in the plants. Self-contained plant growth may be plant growth from
the growth packet 900 which may be nourished, sustained and/or
accelerated by the self-contained materials such as nutrients that
may be inside the growth packet 900. As a result, the growth packet
900 can be used in environments where there may be insufficient
nutrients in the soil to support plant growth.
[0080] In one embodiment, the outer wall 910 can be made of porous
material such as burlap, such that air and fluids, such as water
moisture, can be exchanged between the interior and the exterior of
the growth packet 900, but the plants, self-contained materials
such as nutrients, and soil organisms may be confined inside the
outer wall 910. A porous outer wall 910, such as one made from
Burlap material, may enable plant growth to penetrate the material.
In one embodiment, reinforcing strings 920 can be used to help
reinforce the growth packet 900. In one embodiment, the size of the
growth packet 900 may be from about one inch to twelve inches in
diameter. In one embodiment, the contents inside the growth packet
900 may be in conformity with local laws, environment-friendly, and
in harmony with the surrounding vegetation. In one embodiment, the
self-contained materials contained inside the growth packet 900 may
comprise bee plant vitamins, nutrients, pH buffers that buffer the
pH from about pH=4 to about pH=10, gases such as carbon dioxide
(CO.sub.2), salts of phosphoric acid, pre-grown plants, and
combinations thereof, that may be used to revitalize, sustain,
and/or accelerate plant growth from the bottom 180 of the body of
water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra. The plant
growth from the growth packet 900 may be used to replenish oxygen
in waters in which oxygen has been depleted. Oxygen depletion may
result from contamination of a body of water by phosphates. The
phosphates may be released through urban and agricultural
activities, including sewage treatment plant discharges and run-off
of fertilizer from farmlands and, once in the body of water, the
phosphates enable the heavy growth of algae. Algal die-off begins
as the cells age, at which time the algae become very concentrated
such as in early summer so that light penetration may be
diminished. The dead cells fall to the bottom and may be decomposed
by bacteria, which use a considerable amount of oxygen in the
process necessary for fish and other life forms in the water.
[0081] In one embodiment, the growth packet 900 may comprise masses
930a and 930b scattered inside the growth packet 900.
Alternatively, the masses 930a and 930b can be outside but tied to
the growth packet 900. Although only two masses 930a and 930b may
be illustratively shown here, in general, any number of masses like
the masses 930a and 930b can be used. The masses 930a and 930b can
be any objects having their weights sufficiently large so as to
make the growth packet 900 sink to and stay at the bottom 180 of
the body of water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra.
Once settled at the bottom 180 of the bottom of the body of water
220, plant growth from the growth packet 900 may grow upright. In
one embodiment, the masses 930a and 930b can be made of a
degradable material, e.g., a metal that can dissolve in the body of
water 220 such that the seedlings, seeds may continue to grow in
the growth packet 900, resulting in protecting the environment.
[0082] In one embodiment, the growth packet 900 may comprise
floating objects 940a and 940b scattered inside the growth packet
900. Alternatively, the floating objects 940a and 940b can be
outside but tied to the growth packet 900. Although only two
floating objects 940a and 940b may be illustratively shown here, in
general, any number of floating objects like the floating objects
940a and 940b can be used. The floating objects 940a and 940b have
light weights and large volumes so as to make the growth packet 900
float. In one embodiment, the floating objects 940a and 940b can be
made of a degradable material, e.g., a metal that can dissolve in
the body of water 220 or a biodegradable fibrous material such as a
textile material such as, for example, burlap, or starch, resulting
in protecting the environment, as described supra. In one
embodiment, the floating objects 940a and 940b can be air bladders.
In one embodiment, multiple growth packets 900 can be tied together
to form a floating habitat on the water surface.
[0083] FIG. 6A illustrates a planting system 1000 which can be used
for planting the growth packet 900 of FIG. 5 into the sediment
layer at the bottom 180 of a body of water 220, as depicted in FIG.
2A and described supra, in accordance with a method 2000, as
depicted in FIG. 7 and described infra. Illustratively, the
planting system 1000 may comprise a supporting rig 1005, such as a
boat, a growth packet 900, delivery sled 1040, a growth packet pump
1010, a growth packet container 1015, a growth packet gate 1020,
and a transport pipe 1025. The growth packet 900 planting sled 1040
comprises an aligning pipe 1030 operatively coupled via an
extendable elbow B.sub.3 to a slanted bar 1050, that may provide
alignment of the aligning pipe 1030 with the guide channels 1034
along a longitudinal axis of the sled 1040, along an axis
orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the sled 1040 and/or in a
direction of an arrow 1045.
[0084] FIG. 6B illustrates a bottom view of the planting sled 1040
of FIG. 6A. The operation of the planting system 1000 of FIG. 6A
can be described infra with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9.
[0085] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a method 2000 for
operating the apparatus of FIG. 6A, according to embodiments of the
present invention. With reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, in the
step 2100 of the method 2000, the planting sled 1040 may be
operably coupled to a front plow 1042 and a back plow 1044. In the
step 2200 of the method 2000, the entire planting system 1000 can
be coupled to the boat 1005 such that when the boat advances, the
planting sled 1040 surfs along on the bottom 180 of the body of
water 220, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra, creating a
planting trench 1033. In step 2250, a growth packet 900 may be
inserted into soil, such as sediment 1070, as depicted in FIG. 6A
and described supra, using an alignment sensor 3210 and ram piston
3220. Alternatively, the growth packet 900 may be inserted into
soil at an edge of a body of water or soil on a shoreline adjacent
to the body of water. FIG. 9, infra, depicts the alignment sensor
3210 and the ram piston 3220 in an exploded view of a front
elevation view of the planting sled 1040. In step 2300, while the
planting sled 1040 surfs on the sediment layer 1070, the back plow
1044 moves sediment materials into the trench 1033. In the step
2250, the slanted bar 1050 that may be operably coupled at B.sub.1
to the rig 1005 and at B.sub.2 to a vertical bar 1055, may provide
alignment in an x, y, and z axes of the sled 1040 wherein x and y
may be the longitudinal and transverse axes in the same plane of
the sled 1040 and z is the axis orthogonal to the x,y plane. In the
step 2300 of the method 2000, the back plow may be used to move
soil such as sediment 1070 to fill the trench 1033 and cover the
growth packet 900, thereby disposing the growth packet 900 for
growth.
[0086] In one embodiment, while the boat 1005 may be advancing in a
direction of an arrow 1032, the gate 1020 may be periodically
opened. As a result, under the pressure created by the pump 1010,
any time the gate 1020 opens, one or more growth packets 900 may be
pushed into the transport pipe 1025, through the alignment pipe
1030, and into the soil (i.e., sediment layer 1070) at the bottom
180 of the body of water 220, as described in FIG. 2A and described
supra, via the opening 1034. In one embodiment, the transport pipe
1025 may be flexible so that the relative positions of the
container 1015 and the alignment pipe 1030 can change while the
planting sled 1040 which can be tightly coupled to the alignment
pipe 1030 surfs on the bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as
a river bottom.
[0087] In one embodiment, while the planting sled 1040 slides on
the sediment surface 1065, the plows 1042 and 1044 may be dragged
in the sediment layer 1070. The front plow 1042 dashes through the
sediment materials and forms a trench 1033 along its path. The back
plow 1044 moves after the front plow 1042 and moves sediment
materials displaced by the front plow 1042 back into the trench
1033. As a result, whenever a growth packet 900 exits the alignment
pipe 1030 via the opening 1034, the growth packet 900 may be
planted in the trench 1033 dug by the front plow 1042. Then, the
back plow 1044 fills the trench 1033 with sediment materials
burying the growth packet 900 in the trench 1033 in the
process.
[0088] In one embodiment, the front plow 1042 extends deeper into
the sediment layer 1070 than the back plow 1044. As a result, when
the growth packet 900 may be dropped at the bottom of the trench
1033, formed by the front plow 1042, the growth packet 900 may be
below the sweep of the back plow 1044 making it easier for the back
plow 1044 to bury the growth packet 900 in the trench 1033.
[0089] If it may be desired to move the planting sled 1040 up a
slope, the vertical bar 1055 may be drawn up by the hydraulic pump
1060 so as to enable the slanted bar 1050 that may be operably
coupled to the boat 1005 to rotate around an axis B.sub.1. As a
result, the planting sled 1040 can slide uphill. The vertical bar
1055 sliding in the sliding pipe 1060 which can be operably coupled
to the boat 1005 provides the force to move the planting sled 1040,
as in surfing, along the soil of the bottom of the body of water,
such as the sediment 1070.
[0090] Similarly, if it may be desirable to move the planting sled
1040 down a slope, the slanted bar 1050 may be lowered by the
hydraulic pump 1060 and the vertical bar 1055 so as to enable the
slanted bar 1050 to rotate on the axis B.sub.1. Alternatively, the
vertical bar 1055 may be pushed down by a spring loaded mechanism
to exert a downward force on the slanted bar 1050. As a result, the
planting sled 1040 can slide downhill.
[0091] In one embodiment, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 1075
can be used with the planting system 1000 so as to ensure that the
structures 900 may be planted at the desired locations at the
bottom 180 of the body of water 220, such as a river bottom, as
depicted in FIG. 2A and described supra. In other words, the use of
the GPS 1075 helps the operator of the planting system 1000 keep
track of the locations of the river bottom that have been planted
with growth packet 900. As a result, pre-specified areas of the
river bottom can be revitalized by implanting the structures 900
using the planting system 1000.
[0092] In one embodiment, a sonar device 1080 can be used with the
planting system 1000 to help the operator of the planting system
1000 recognize obstacles at the bottom 180 of the body of water
220, such as a river bottom, as depicted in FIG. 2A and described
supra. As a result, the operator can steer the planting sled 1040
around the obstacles (e.g., rocks, debris, etc.) at the bottom 180
of the body of water 220, so as to avoid damage to the planting
sled 1040.
[0093] In the embodiment described above, the slanted bar 1050 may
be directly coupled to the alignment pipe 1030. Alternatively, the
slanted bar 1050 can be directly coupled to the planting sled
1040.
[0094] FIGS. 8a-c illustrate a top view of the vessel (or vessel)
110 of FIG. 1 comprising a top plate 110e and four side plates
110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d abutting and being coupled to four
curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840, respectively, according to
embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, each of
the four curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 may be coupled to a
pair of hydraulic rams which in turn may be coupled to the vessel
110. More specifically, the curtain plate 810 may be coupled to
rams 810a and 810b. The curtain plate 820 may be coupled to rams
820a and 820b. The curtain plate 830 may be coupled to rams 830a
and 830b. The curtain plate 840 may be coupled to rams 840a and
840b.
[0095] FIGS. 8a-c illustrate a perspective view of the vessel 110
and the curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 of FIGS. 8a-c,
according to embodiments of the present invention. The curtain
plate 810 may be coupled to the hydraulic ram 810a via a
single-plane connector 810e and a piston 810c. The piston 810c may
be capable of sliding in and out inside the ram 810a. The
single-plane connector 810e may be tightly coupled to one end of
the piston 810c. As a result, the single-plane connector 810e can
move only up and down while the piston 810c moves up and down
inside the ram 810a.
[0096] Similarly, the curtain plate 810 may be coupled to the
hydraulic ram 810b via a single-plane connector 810f and a piston
810d. The piston 810d may be capable of sliding in and out inside
the ram 810b. The single-plane connector 810f may be tightly
coupled to one end of the piston 810d. As a result, the
single-plane connector 810f can move only up and down while the
piston 810d moves up and down inside the ram 810b.
[0097] In one embodiment, each of the single-plane connectors 810e
and 810f only enables the curtain plate 810 to rotate around it in
a plane parallel to the side plate 110a of the vessel 110. As a
result, by adjusting the pistons 810c and 810d, the curtain plate
810 can be pulled up, lowered down, and rotated around a plane
parallel to the side plate 110a of the vessel 110. In one
embodiment, the other three curtain plates 820, 830, and 840 may be
coupled to the vessel 110 in a similar manner.
[0098] In one embodiment, the curtain plate 810 may be longer in
length than its abutting side plate 110a of the vessel 110.
Similarly, the curtain plate 820 may be longer in length than its
abutting side plate 110b (FIG. 8a-c) of the vessel 110. However,
the curtain plates 830 ad 840 may be of the same length as their
abutting side plates 110c and 110d, respectively, of the vessel
110.
[0099] FIG. 8a-c illustrate the use of the four curtain plates 810,
820, 830, and 840 for extending the side plates 110a, 110b, 110c,
and 110d, respectively. In one embodiment, the vessel 110 may be
lowered into a body of water but its top plate 110e may be kept
above the water surface 860. Then, the four curtain plates 810,
820, 830, and 840 may be lowered down until they come into contact
with the bottom of the body of water such that the vessel 110 and
the curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 form with the bottom of
the body of water an enclosed space inside the vessel 110. In other
words, the four curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840 serve as
extensions of the side plates 110a, 110b, 110c, and 110d of the
vessel 110, respectively.
[0100] In one embodiment, the vessel 110 may be positioned in the
body of water such that its top plate 110e may be either submerged
or un-submerged and may be parallel to the water surface 860 of the
body of water, and such that the slope direction of the bottom 850
of the body of water underneath the vessel 110 may be from the
curtain plate 830 to the curtain plate 840. A slope direction of a
plane may be defined to be the direction of movement of a ball when
let to roll freely on the plane under the effect of gravity. Then,
the two curtain plates 830 and 840 can be lowered down vertically
until they come into complete contact with the bottom 850 of the
body of water. Each of the two curtain plates 810 and 820 can be
lowered vertically and rotated clockwise in a plane parallel to its
abutting side plate 110a or 110b until it comes into complete
contact with the bottom 850 of the body of water. As a result of
the curtain plates 810 and 820 being longer in length than the side
plates 110a and 110b, respectively, the curtain plates 810 and 820
can rotate to completely contact the bottom without creating an
opening on the side of the vessel 110, as shown in FIG. 8a-c.
[0101] In one embodiment, each of the rams 810a and 810b can rotate
in a plane parallel to the side plate 110a around a point tightly
affixed to the vessel 110. As a result, the curtain plate 810 can
be moved horizontally by simultaneously rotating both the rams 810a
and 810b. This adds further flexibility in movement of the curtain
plate 810.
[0102] In one embodiment, similarly, each of the rams 820a and 820b
can rotate in a plane parallel to the side plate 110b around a
point tightly affixed to the vessel 110. As a result, the curtain
plate 820 can be moved horizontally by simultaneously rotating both
the rams 820a and 820b. This adds further flexibility in movement
of the curtain plate 820.
[0103] In the embodiments described above, the connectors 830a and
830b associated with the curtain plate 830 and the connectors 840a
and 840b associated with the curtain plate 840 may be of
single-plane type. Alternatively, these connectors 830a, 830b,
840a, and 840b can be omitted. In that case, the curtain plates 830
can be soldered to the pistons 830a and 830b, and the curtain
plates 840 can be soldered to the pistons 840a and 840b.
[0104] In one embodiment, the curtain plates 810, 820, 830, and 840
and associated components (connectors, rams, and pistons) can be
made of a stainless material. Their sizes may be sufficient to
withstand the expected maximum forces exerted upon them.
[0105] FIG. 9 depicts an exploded side elevation view of the
planting sled 1040, as depicted in FIG. 6A, supra, and described in
associated text, illustrating an alignment sensor 3210 and a ram
piston 3220, wherein the alignment sensor 3210 may be operatively
coupled to the ram piston 3220. The alignment sensor 3210 may be
used for aligning the ram piston 3220 with the at least one growth
packet channel 1034, wherein the alignment sensor 3210 may be
located on a tip of the ram piston 3220 and the ram piston 3220 may
be manually or computer controlled. The ram piston 3220 may slide
within the aligning pipe 1030, wherein the aligning pipe 1030 may
be positioned manually, by an operator, or in an automated fashion,
by the computer, anywhere along the xyz coordinates of the planting
sled 1040. The alignment sensor 3210 may be used for aligning the
ram piston 3220 with the growth packet 900 channel 1034. A purpose
of the aligned ram piston 3220 may be to physically and directly
drive the growth packet 900 through the channel 1034, inserting the
growth packet 900 into the trench 1033 that may have been made by
movement of the forward plow 1042 in the direction of the arrow
1032 in the soil of the bottom 1065 of the body of water 1037, such
as sediment 1070, as depicted in FIG. 6A, and described herein.
Alternatively, the ram piston 3220 may be used to physically and
directly insert the growth packet 900 into soil on a shore
alongside the body of water 1037 such as a river or into soil at an
edge of the body of water 1037 and the shore. The alignment sensor
3210 and the ram piston 3220 may be aligned with the at least one
growth packet guide channel 1034, in accordance with the step 2250
of the method 2000, as depicted in FIG. 7 and described supra.
[0106] FIG. 10 depicts a Blanket Roll Planting System (BR Planting
System) 3000, comprising: a rig or boat 3095, a blanket roll 3030,
a control 3010, a supporting system 3050, and a ram piston 3020.
The control 3010 may be a computer, wherein the computer may be
operably connected to an aligning sensor 3015 of the ram piston
3020, such as the alignment sensor 3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and
described supra, for aligning the trajectory of the ram piston 3020
in the direction of the arrow 3160 to drive the stakes 3080 to
designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll 3030 and 3140 in the
soil 3130. Alternatively, the control 3010 may be a manual control,
wherein the alignment sensor 3015, such as the alignment sensor
3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and described supra, may provide a
visual image of the alignment of the ram piston 3020 with the
blanket roll 3030 to an operator. The blanket roll 3030 may include
at least one growth packet 3110 incorporated in a material such as
the burlap or other biologically degradable material used to house
the growth packets 900, as depicted in FIG. 5, and described supra.
The blanket roll 3030 may be any appropriate dimensions, such as
from about one to one thousand feet long and from about six inches
to about ten feet wide. The growth packets 3110 may be any
appropriate dimensions, such as from about one to about twelve
inches in diameter. The growth packet 3110 may contain plants
(e.g., cuttings, roots, tubers, seeds, etc.), nutrients, and soil
organisms (not shown) for accelerating growth in a green house
growing effect that shelters new growth from the forces of nature.
Hereinafter, a tuber may be a stem of a plant having buds, or eyes
in the axils of minute scale leaves of the tuber, wherein the buds
or eyes may grow into new plants. In some embodiments, the growth
packet 3110 may be a "self-contained growth packet" with an outer
wall that may contain self-contained materials such as sufficient
nutrients such as fertilizers, minerals, solid support, such as
soil around the roots of the incipient plant for the plant to grow
even though it may be placed in an otherwise sterile and barren
bed, such as, for example, a barren river bed, that may be barren
because it may be devoid of said nutrients and solid support needed
to sustain or accelerate plant growth. In like manner as described
for the growth packets 780 and 900, the blanket roll 3030 may
provide nourishment such as nitrate and phosphate containing
fertilizer for the growth packets 3110 to receive nourishment after
they may be inserted into soil.
[0107] The stake and growth packet delivering system 3050 may be
secured at a location 3093 to the rig or boat 3095 via connecting
tether 3092. The connecting tether 3092 may be flexible material
such as rope or plastic or rigid, such as metal ties. The stake and
growth packet delivering system 3050 may comprise a stake supply
3090, a stake delivery pipe 3100, wherein stakes 3090 may move in a
direction of an arrow 3150 into a trajectory of a ram piston 3020,
designated by a direction of an arrow 3160, and a blanket roll
guide system 3060, wherein the blanket roll guide system 3060
guides the laying of the blanket roll 3030, such that the blanket
roll 3030 may pass through the trajectory of the ram piston 3020,
in the direction of the arrow 3160. The stakes 3090 and 3080 may be
made of wood, plastic, composites, such as of plastic and rubber,
or metal, and may be oblong with pointed ends to facilitate entry
into the soil. Alternatively, the stakes may be any appropriate
solid geometric shape for penetrating the blanket roll 3030 at a
location 3070 and securing the blanket roll to the soil at a
location 3140. The roll guide system 3060 may be a wheel that may
include a groove on which the blanket roll slides, or any
appropriate mechanism for guiding the blanket roll 3030.
[0108] The ram piston 3020 may be hydraulic or spring powered and
may include an alignment sensor 3015 and an alignment pipe 3040 for
aligning the ram piston 3020, such that the trajectory of the ram
piston 3020, designated by the direction of the arrow 3160, may
drive the stakes 3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket
roll 3030 and 3140 in the soil 3130. In the method 4100 of the
method for planting 4000, depicted in FIG. 11 and described infra,
the control 3010 may receive feedback from the alignment sensor
3015 to align the ram piston 3020 trajectory to drive the stakes
3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll 3030 and 3140
in the soil 3130. Alternatively, the control 3010 may be a manual
control, wherein the alignment sensor 3015, such as the alignment
sensor 3210, as depicted in FIG. 9 and described supra, may provide
a visual image of the alignment of the ram piston 3020 such that an
operator may align the ram piston 3020 trajectory to drive the
stakes 3080 to designated locations 3070 in the blanket roll 3030
and 3140 in the soil 3130. Supporting rods 3170 may be operably
coupled to the aligning pipe 3040 and roll guide system 3060,
resulting in maintaining a constant trajectory of the ram piston
3020 in the direction of the arrow 3160, even if a rate of feeding
the blanket roll 3030 increases, such that resistance to feeding of
the blanket roll 3030 may create a force orthogonal to the
direction of the arrow 3160.
[0109] FIG. 11 depicts a method 4000 for planting using the a
Blanket Roll Planting System (BR Planting System) 3000, as depicted
in FIG. 10, supra, and described herein. In the step 4100 of the
method 4000, a stake and growth packet delivery system 3050 may be
provided, wherein the stake and growth packet delivery system 3050
may include a stake supply 3090, a stake delivery pipe 3100, a ram
piston 3020, having a trajectory in the direction of the arrow
3160, a blanket roll guide system 3060, wherein the blanket roll
guide system 3060 guides the laying of the blanket roll 3030 onto
the bottom 3130 of the body of water 3120, such as soil or
sediment, such that the blanket roll 3030 passes through the
trajectory of the ram piston 3020, in the direction of the arrow
3160, such that the stakes 3080 may be driven into the blanket roll
3030 and bottom of the body of water 3130 by the ram piston 3020.
In the step 4200 of the method 4000, a blanket roll 3030 may be
provided to the stake and growth packet delivery system 3050,
wherein the blanket roll 3030 may include at least one growth
packet 3110. In the step 4200, the blanket roll 3030 may be
transported to the planting site pre-loaded with the at least one
growth packet 3110 or it may be transported to the planting site as
an empty casing and loaded with the at least one growth packet 3110
as needed. The blanket roll 3030 of the BR Planting System 3000 may
be unrolled from a support system 3050 and staked down into
position in the bottom 3130 of the body of water 3120, such as the
sediment, in deep or shallow water. Alternatively, the blanket roll
3030 may be staked down on a river bank, a shore of a lake or
river, or at an edge of a body of water 3120. The support system
3050 can be mounted on barges or boats for laying the blanket roll
3030 into the soil bottom 3130 of a body of water 3120, such as the
sediment, in deep or shallow water. Alternatively, the support
system 3050 may be mounted to trucks, crawlers, excavators etc., or
boats for laying the blanket roll 3030 into the bottom 3130 of a
body of water 3120 such as soil of a river bank, a shore of a lake
or river, or at an edge of the body of water 3120.
[0110] FIG. 12 depicts a longitudinal cross section of the
apparatuses 100 or 200, illustrating an exploded view of the
attachment 248'' depicted in FIG. 2A, supra, wherein the attachment
248'' may be a fluted filter. The attachment 248'', that may be a
fluted filter, may comprise a bore 260, a fluted surface 265 having
at least one peak(s) 263 and at least one valley(s) 259, and at
least one channel(s) 267, wherein the at least one channel(s) 267
may extend from the fluted surface 265 in the at least one
valley(s) 259 into the bore 260 of the attachment 248''. The
attachment 248'', that may be a fluted filter, may be operatively
coupled to the at least one pipe(s) 248 at an opening 248', as
depicted in FIG. 2A, supra. Hereinafter, "operatively coupled"
means the bore 260 of the attachment 248'' may be contiguous with
the opening 248' of the at least one pipe(s) 248, such that
material, such as contaminated water and suspended contaminated
sediment in the mixture 252' may pass from the interior 252 of the
vessel 210 through at least one channel(s) 267 of the attachment
248'' into the at least one pipe(s) 248 in a direction of the arrow
177, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and described supra.
Alternatively, the attachment 248'' that may be a fluted filter,
may be operatively coupled to the at least one pipe(s) 245a, 245b,
or 245c of the apparatus 200, as depicted in FIG. 2A, or to the at
least one pipes 145a', 145b' or 145c' of the apparatus 100, as
depicted in FIG. 1. The attachment 248'', such as the fluted
filter, may be made of plastic, rubber, composites, such as plastic
and rubber, metal, wherein the metal may be copper, brass,
stainless or carbon steel. The at least one peak(s) 263 of the
fluted surface 265 may be a point or be blunt shaped.
[0111] FIG. 13 depicts a transverse cross-sectional view of the
attachment 248'' that may be a fluted filter. In FIG. 13, a length
in a direction of an arrow 269 between the adjacent peaks 263 of
the fluted surface 265 may be from about 1 in. to about 3 inches.
In one embodiment, the at least one channel(s) 267 may have a
diameter from about 0.002 mm to about 0.006 mm and a length in the
direction of the arrow 177 between adjacent points 261 of the
fluted surface may be from about 0.002 mm to about 0.006 mm. In
another embodiment, the at least one channel(s) 267 may have a
diameter from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm and a length in the
direction of the arrow 177 between adjacent points 261 of the
fluted surface may be from about 0.006 mm to about 0.02 mm. In
another embodiment, the at least one channel(s) 267 may have a
diameter from about 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm and a length in the
direction of the arrow 177 between adjacent points 261 of the
fluted surface may be from about 0.02 mm to about 0.063 mm. The
fluted surface 265 between the at least one points 263 and 261 may
be a smooth linear surface, or alternatively the fluted surface 265
may be rough or non-uniform. Adjacent points 261 may align or be
coincident with opposite points along a diameter of the at least
one channel(s) 267. A purpose of the attachment 248'', that may be
the fluted filter, may be to remove or filter out solids having a
larger diameter than the length between the adjacent peaks 263 of
the fluted surface 265 of the attachment 248''. In one embodiment,
the attachment 248'', that may be the fluted filter, may remove or
filter out solid material in the mixture 252', thereby preventing
solids such as rocks or other insoluble solid debris, that may have
been carried along with the contaminated material such as
contaminated sediment in the mixture 252' in the interior 252 of
the vessel 210 from entering the at least one channel(s) 267 and
the at least one pipe 248. It has been found that at least one
channel(s) 267 may become occluded or clogged with solids having a
greater diameter than the at least one channel(s) 267, and that
using the valleys 259 to screen such solids, such that the length
between opposite coplanar points, in the plane of the arrow 177
lessens as the solids approach the at least one channel(s) 267.
[0112] FIG. 14 depicts a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
apparatus 200, illustrating an exploded view of the attachment
248'' when the attachment 248'' may be a coarse filter. The
attachment 248'', such as the coarse filter, as depicted in FIG.
14, comprises a filter element 258, wherein the filter element 258
may include a screen 259 and at least one orifice 256 in the screen
259, and wherein the at least one orifice 256 may have a diameter
from about 1/8 in. to about 1 in. The at least one orifice 256 may
be round, square, rectangular or any appropriate polygon. The at
least one orifice 256 of the apparatus 248'' that may be a coarse
filter may be an array of holes having a diameter from about 1/8 to
about 1 in. The filter element 258 may be conical shaped as in FIG.
14, or alternatively, the filter element 258 may be spherical,
cubic, pyramidal, or any solid geometric shape of a polygon. The
filter element 258 may be any appropriate solid material such as
sheet metal, plastic, wherein the sheet metal may be copper, zinc,
stainless steel or carbon steel, or any sheet material that may be
non-porous to water, sediment or solid objects such as rocks or
pebbles in the body of water 220.
[0113] In FIG. 14, the attachment 248'', that may be a coarse
filter, may be operatively coupled to the at least one pipe(s) 248
at an opening 248', as depicted in FIG. 2A, supra. Hereinafter,
"operatively coupled" means the bore 258 of the attachment 248''
may be contiguous with the opening 248' of the at least one pipe(s)
248, such that material, such as contaminated water and suspended
contaminated sediment in the mixture 252' may pass from the
interior 252 of the vessel 210 through the at least one orifice(s)
256 of the apparatus 248'' into the at least one pipe(s) 248 in a
direction of the arrow 177, as depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and
described supra.
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, and FIGS. 12-14, it has been
found that materials or solids in the body of water 220, as
depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, supra, such as suspended sediment in
the mixture 252' may occlude or clog the at least one channel(s)
267 or the at least one orifice(s) 256 of the attachment 248'' when
the attachment 248'' of the apparatus 200 is a fluted filter or
coarse filter. Referring to FIG. 13, it has been found that the
occlusions or clogs may be removed from the at least one channel(s)
267 of the attachment 248'', when the attachment 248'' may be a
coarse filter, by pumping, e.g., with pump 380, the mixture 252'
such that the mixture 252' in the "open or closed" piping system
188 may be forced in a direction of the arrow 254, as depicted in
FIG. 13, through the at least one channel(s) 267 of the attachment
248''. Referring to FIG. 14, it has been found that the occlusions
or clogs may be removed from the at least one orifice(s) 256 of the
attachment 248'', when the attachment 248'' may be a fluted filter,
by pumping, e.g., with pump 380, the mixture 252' such that mixture
252' in the "open or closed" piping system 188 may be forced in a
direction of the arrow 251, as depicted in FIG. 14, through the at
least one orifice(s) 256 of the attachment 248''. Alternatively, an
untrasonic generator may be operatively coupled to the attachment
248'' to provide bursts of ultrasonic vibration to remove
occlusions or clogs from the at least one channel(s) 267 or the at
least one orifice(s) 256, of the attachment 248'', when the
attachment 248'' may be a fluted filter or coarse filter.
[0115] FIG. 15 depicts an overall flowchart of a method 800 for
operating the apparatuses 100 and 200 robotically, wherein the
valves, agitators, viewing equipment, map coordinate locating
equipment such as GPS and Sonar equipment may be remotely computer
controlled such as by remotely placing the valves in open or closed
positions in the piping systems 45 and 188 for the apparatuses 100
and 200. The terms "enter and entering" are defined to mean typing
through a keyboard (or moving or clicking a pointing device) linked
to a computer 400, as depicted in FIG. 16, infra and described
herein, adapted to display the information entered on a screen. The
method 800 comprises: a the step 810, wherein the operator enters
map coordinates and a depth of removal for a location where
contaminated material has been designated for removal; a step 820,
controlling the apparatuses 100 and 200, including valves,
agitators, viewing equipment, map coordinate locating equipment
such as GPS and Sonar equipment of the apparatuses 100 and 200 with
the computer 400, wherein the computer 400 calculates operating
parameters for the controlled agitators, viewing equipment, map
coordinate locating equipment; and a step 830, wherein the
apparatuses 100 and 200 remove the contaminated materials.
[0116] Generally, the method 800 described herein with respect to
removing contaminated materials illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 10
and described supra, may be practiced with a general-purpose
computer 400 and the method may be coded as a set of instructions
on removable or hard media for use by the general-purpose computer
400. FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of a general-purpose
computer 400 for practicing the present invention. In FIG. 16,
computer system 400 has at least one microprocessor or central
processing unit (CPU) 405. CPU 405 is interconnected via a system
bus 410 to a random access memory (RAM) 415, a read-only memory
(ROM) 420, an input/output (I/O) adapter 425 for a connecting a
removable data and/or program storage device 430 and a mass data
and/or program storage device 435, a user interface adapter 440 for
connecting a keyboard 445 and a mouse 450, a port adapter 455 for
connecting a data port 460 and a display adapter 465 for connecting
a display device 470.
[0117] ROM 420 contains the basic operating system for computer
system 400. The operating system may alternatively reside in RAM
415 or elsewhere as is known in the art. Examples of removable data
and/or program storage device 430 include magnetic media such as
floppy drives and tape drives and optical media such as CD ROM
drives. Examples of mass data and/or program storage device 435
include hard disk drives and non-volatile memory such as flash
memory. In addition to keyboard 445 and mouse 450, other user input
devices such as trackballs, writing tablets, pressure pads,
microphones, light pens and position-sensing screen displays may be
connected to user interface 440. Examples of display devices
include cathode-ray tubes (CRT) and liquid crystal displays
(LCD).
[0118] A computer program with an appropriate application interface
may be created by one skilled in the art and stored on a system or
a data and/or program storage device to simplify the practicing of
this invention. In operation, information for or the computer
program created to run the present invention is loaded on the
appropriate removable data and/or program storage device 430, fed
through data port 460 or typed in using keyboard 445. In a first
example, the output of the system bus 410 may control the
apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and
700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, resulting in containing and
isolating PCB-contaminated sediments while they may be being
handled with the rate of suspension and turbidity of the sediments
being controlled. In a second example, the output of the system bus
410 may control the apparatuses 100 and 200 enabling sampling,
viewing, sonar detection, monitoring, separating, testing,
treating, injecting, removing or replacing contaminated materials
from a contained site within a body of water.
[0119] The present invention can provide a structure e.g., the
apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and
700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, for containing and isolating
the PCB-contaminated sediments while they may be handled and the
rate of suspension and turbidity of the sediments may be
controlled. The apparatuses 100 and 200 enabling sampling, viewing,
sonar detection, monitoring, separating, testing, treating,
injecting, removing or replacing contaminated materials from a
contained site within a body of water. The open faced vessels 110
and 210 form a sealable/resealable container with the bottom
materials, then uses "agitators" for suspending contaminated
material such as silt and sludge within the container and outlets
through which a mixture of the materials and fluids may be
withdrawn from the vessel for separation and monitoring for
chemicals and/or treatment. Most PCBs reside in the top 6 inches of
the sediment layer at the bottom of the river. However, at some hot
spots, PCBs may be present at a depth as deep as 25 inches. The
"agitators" will be variable speed impellers, whips and nozzles for
directing a stream of water or air at variable pressures. The
container, agitators, impellers, whips and nozzles may be of mixed
materials, for example: carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel,
rubber, plastic or composites.
[0120] A global positioning device (GPD) can be used to determine
the positioning of the vessels 110 and 210. Also, the open or
closed loop piping system 188 may include a "forward and reverse"
pump 380 for removing the contaminated material such as silt and
sludge materials from attachment 248'' and from piping system 45 of
apparatus 100, as depicted in FIG. 1, and piping system 188 of
apparatus 200, as depicted in FIG. 2A, supra, while the releasable
seal 183 prevents contaminated material from entering the vessels
110 or 210. Monitoring the sample site 310a, as depicted in FIG.
2B, may include testing for chemicals and elements known or
unknown. The treatments can include using additives, reducers,
catalysts, microbes, stabilizers, adhesives, charged particles,
gases or other elements known or unknown. Once treated, "cleaned,
separated materials" may be returned via the open or closed piping
system 188, as depicted in FIG. 2A or the closed loop piping system
45, as depicted in FIG. 1. The apparatuses 100 and 200 enables
removal of contaminated materials "in place" with continuous
monitoring and minimal exposure to the surroundings.
[0121] The apparatuses 100 and 200 have the following advantages
over the conventional dredging method that may use the "open
mouthed" bucket. First, the apparatuses 100 and 200 may have a
multi-use purpose, such as, for example, sampling, viewing, sonar
detection, monitoring, separating, testing, treating, injecting,
removing or replacing contaminated material from a contained site
within the riverbed. Second, the "open or closed loop" piping
systems 188 within the containment vessel area may be used to
stimulate and control the rate of suspension of materials
(turbidity) and the depth of involvement into the riverbed
materials as well. The agitators may be variable speed impellers
125a and 125b, whip 127 or nozzles 135a, 135b, 135c, 135d and may
be adapted for rising up and down, while advancing into the
contaminated material such as sediment 270, e.g., silt and sludge
media, to a controlled depth. Third, the apparatuses 100 and 200
may be a multiple "closed looped" or "open loop" piping systems, 45
and 188 that recycle the enclosed fluids out of the vessels 110 and
210 and back into the vessels 110 and 210, enabling elected
treatments or filtration processes. Fourth, testing and treatments
to the contained sediment 78 and 270, e.g., silt and sludge media,
can be done in place in the vessels 110 and 210 in lieu of removing
it from the vessels 110 and 210. Fifth, by reversing the process
the voids left from removals can be filled with a selected amount
of cleaned or new fill materials such as plant life and organisms,
etc.
[0122] Direct benefits to using the apparatuses 100 and 200 may be
seen with respect to working below the mud line with quiet,
night-and-day, year-round operations and minimal effects to the
river, navigation, public water supplies, improving the public's
health, improving the ecology of the river, the fish and wildlife,
the food chain, improved agricultural applications, improved
transportation and recreation. There may be several objectives
achieved using the apparatuses 100 and 200 of the present
invention: (1) reduced cancer risks and non-cancer health hazards
to people who eat fish, (2) lowered risks to fish and wildlife, (3)
diminished PCB levels in sediments in river water above water
quality standards, (4) reduced quantity (mass) of PCBs in sediments
that may be consumed by fish and wildlife, and (5) stopped
long-term movement of PCBs down the river.
[0123] One success of the apparatuses of the present invention,
e.g., the apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and
methods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, can be
measured by the minimization of the amount of materials (large
rocks, stones, etc.) that may be collected and/or processed for
transport to a disposal site. A second success of the apparatuses
of the present invention, e.g., the apparatuses 100 and 200 of
FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B) and methods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B,
respectively, may be enabling targeting of contaminated materials
for removal, so that essentially 100% by weight of the contaminated
materials may be removed.
[0124] The environmental benefits may be the controlled removal of
contaminated materials such as river sediment to prevent downstream
migration of the contaminated materials that may result if the
contaminated materials were not removed. The present invention may
provide economic benefits in the form of returning a body of water
such as the Hudson River to safe use again.
[0125] The energy benefits of the apparatuses of the present
invention, e.g., the apparatuses 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B)
and methods 600 and 700 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively, may be
expected to cut the energy consumption for PCB removal and
treatment by a significant amount by shortening the length of the
treatment process. The environmental protection may be offered
through the novel contained dredging process (i.e., inside the
vessel 210) by controlling turbidity and re-suspension released
downstream. The economic benefits may be derived from a shortened,
safer, more efficient process enabling the economy to regain use of
bodies of water such as the Hudson River sooner. The marketing
potential to recover contaminated sediments in any body of water
throughout New York State, the U.S., and all of the developing
countries of the world may be limitless.
[0126] The present invention can also provide the means to
regenerate plant life and install plant life into a body of water
such as a river in efficient and economical ways.
[0127] According to embodiments of the present invention, plant
life may be selected so that it may be able to co-habit together
and repopulate the vacant site. Research will be conducted for the
nutrients and packets that each habitat may require. The Green
Plant Energy Aid System (i.e., the growth packet 900 of FIG. 5),
hereafter known as GREEN PEAS, may be a biodegradable packet,
filled with plants (cuttings, roots, tubers, seeds, etc.),
nutrients, soil, and organisms necessary to accelerate plant growth
in a greenhouse growing effect that shelters new growth from the
forces of nature over a controlled period of time, aiding in
accelerated plant growth. The GREEN PEAS may be prepackaged
high-energy growing pods, round in shape, to facilitate easy
placement. The shape enables the GREEN PEAS to be pumped via
special piping systems into soil whether above or below the
waterline as in river bottoms for soil erosion control. It also
enables the PEAS not to have a top or a bottom, enabling growth to
occur at 360 degrees, thus finding "top" on its own. The GREEN PEAS
should also be weighted to sink or air bladdered to float as in
hydroponic farming. The GREEN PEAS will be filled with soil and
water organisms necessary to restart damaged eco systems such as
brown field sites, slag heaps, run off ponds, lagoons, fire sites
and harbors.
[0128] The benefits of this project may be: the river, improving
the public's health, improving the ecology of the body of water,
such as providing a healthier environment for the fish and
wildlife, eliminating PCB's and other toxic chemicals from the food
chain, improving the purity of public water supplies, removing
waste from the body of water that may result from agricultural
applications, such as the use of fertilizers, and improving
conditions for recreation on the body of water such as for
swimming. The financial benefits may be boundless for both
commercial and public applications.
[0129] This present invention may be superior because the direct
planting process replants the riverbed with GREEN PEAS. Replacing a
controlled amount of material will be far more efficient and cost
effective than current procedures used today. The energy and
economic benefits may be based upon the savings associated with the
efficient way of replanting the river bottom voided of habitat. The
direct planting process to replant the river bed and replace a
controlled amount of clean material (12'' as required by the USEPA)
will save a measurable amount of new soil materials over the
current methods of transferring or clam shelling the soil material
into a flowing river which carries the materials with the current
before they settle out unevenly on the bottoms. The environmental
benefits to the fish, waterfowl, amphibious and aquatic fauna may
be measured by how long it takes to plant the habitat vegetation
and replace the ecological functions.
[0130] With the GREEN PEAS process, the nutrient rich power pods
will jumpstart growing the plants prior to planting in the
riverbed. Already able to provide a root area support system, the
GREEN PEAS may be placed under the riverbed soils by the mechanical
process. This may be unlike current practices that use drop in
place techniques in which plant life could be washed away with
river currents.
[0131] As a summary of the benefits of the present invention, the
present invention preserves the quality of life around the site of
cleaning operation. The operation of the apparatuses 100 and 200
makes negligible noise, creates no pollution, and generates no
smell. Such benefits will be greatly appreciated and welcomed by
the public.
[0132] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been described herein for purposes of illustration, many
modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in
the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass
all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit
and scope of this invention.
* * * * *